Mike Yastrzemski was taken out of the game after an apparent injury on this play pic.twitter.com/go8NL6UHC5
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 2, 2021
The Giants can shake off the potential loss of a game, but the loss of Mike Yastrzemski would be far more significant.
The Giants’ right fielder exited Tuesday’s game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a right thumb sprain after sustaining the injury during a play at the wall in the top of the fourth. X-rays were negative.
The Angels’ Max Stassi lofted a long drive to right that Yastrzemski thought he had a play on. He smacked against the wall hard for a ball that just eluded his glove and caromed off the bricks. Yastrzemski’s left arm helped to cushion the impact a bit, but he then went to the ground, where he landed on his feet, followed by his upper body — and his right, gloved hand carried a lot of his weight. He shook off his glove and grabbed at his right hand. He was shaking his hand in apparent pain for much of the rest of the top of the inning.
He left the game for his at-bat in the bottom of the frame, with Steven Duggar replacing him in a game the Giants were losing 8-0.
Yastrzemski, a reigning MVP candidate, already has missed time this season to an oblique strain that put him on the IL. After a slow start to his campaign, he has picked it up since being activated and had posted a .787 OPS in May.
While the emergence of Duggar as a lefty-hitting outfielder who can play all three spots has been significant, the Giants heavily rely on the all-around play of Yastrzemski.